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New Military Offensive in Pakistan drives TTP into Afghanistan

A military offensive long planned by the Pakistani military in the wake of months of stalled talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) Group, which frequently hides the mountains of Northern Waziristan, took place yesterday. The operation, entitled “Zarb-e-Azb,” has driven TTP militant forces across the border into Afghanistan, additionally creating large numbers of refugees who have fled across the border. Militant threats through media outlets after the offensive have been incendiary and virulent, but government forces according to most sources are facing little resistance.

The continued advance into Waziristan has given the militants little time for organization, strategy, and counterattacks. Over 340 militants so far have been killed, and TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid denounced the offensive, stating, “Nawaz Sharif is responsible for the loss of life and property of tribal Muslims in this military operation.” Pakistani officials have taken to urging Afghan authorities to arrest TTP Taliban Chief Mullah Fazlulllah, who according to their sources is hiding in Afghanistan.

Apparently, what set off the operation was the attack on Karachi airport by the TTP and its affiliates, who claim to have been influenced by extensive airstrikes in Waziristan. The peace talks that had been taking place between a special counsel created by Nawaz Sharif and the leadership of the TTP failed after months of communications made no headway. Waziristan has been ground zero for fighting Taliban groups associated with Al Qaeda, as it was in this region that American intelligence agencies waged their operations.

Ukraine’s military has ramped up operations directed against pro-Russia rebels located in the nation’s east. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko recently refused to renew a cease fire that he deems toothless given ongoing violence and attacks carried out by both the Ukrainian military and the rebels throughout the primarily Russian-speaking east. The Ukrainian president, who refused to the rebels as “parasites,” has enlisted the help of US Secretary of State John Kerry in attempting to persuade Russia to cease its support for the rebels, a support that Russian President Vladimir Putin denies even exists.

Both the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have committed huge sums of money to Central Asia since 1998. Tajikistan’s media estimates that $1.9 billion has been invested into Tajik infrastructure and energy projects, with predictions that the World Bank, especially, will continue to invest in the country’s controversial Rogun hydroelectric dam. The Asian Development Bank has worked to forge bonds with government and international development sources throughout the region, and is currently financing more than $590 million in regional grant-funded projects.

The State Great Khural, Mongolia’s unicameral parliament, has amended a 2006 Minerals law that had made it difficult for foreign mining companies to obtain permits to unilaterally open mining projects within Mongolia. The move comes as little surprise given Mongolian Prime Minster Altankhuyag Norav’s stated goal of boosting the flailing Mongolian economy, which had previously been the fastest-growing in the world, and spur foreign investment. Foreign direct investment (FDI) had fallen within the country by 52% and has continued spiraling downward during the first half of 2014. The change made to the country’s mining law opens a greater swathe of the country up to mining and exploration to 20%, a 12% increase on the country’s previous limitation of 8%, and increase the lifespan of permits by three years, with new permits set to last a total of 12 years.

Iran’s Sadi Foundation, a governmental organization designed to increase the prevalence of the Persian language and script abroad, has announced that they have entered into negotiations with Tajikistan that would see courses in Persian writing be instituted throughout the country. Tajik, the national language of Tajikistan, is mutually intelligible with Persian; however Tajiks use the Cyrillic alphabet, a holdover from the country’s Soviet era, as its writing style.